Golf putting device

ABSTRACT

A similated golf game for allowing a player to practice and improve his putting comprising a rectangular box structure, vertically disposed, having one side of said box structure moveable from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, said moveable side having a plurality of aperatures to similate of golf holes or moon craters, an angularly disposed floor, said floor having a lower edge adjacent an aperature placed in one of the vertically disposed sides. The player attempts to place a golf ball using his putter into one of the aperatures disposed on the moveable side which has been horizontally disposed. An overshot ball will enter the box-like structure, strike the angularly disposed bottom floor and will roll out of the box structure through the side aperature allowing the player to recover the ball. The game may be scored by allowing particular points or number of shots to get into respective aperatures on the moveable side. The game is portable and may be moved to a desired location by placing the moveable side in its closed position.

States Patent [19 1 Doughty GOLF PUTTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Robert H. Doughty, 5970 NW. 18th Ct., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33314 [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 221,591

[52] US. Cl. 273/180, 206/46 AM [51] Int. Cl A63b 57/00 [58] Field of Search 273/178, 179, 180, 176, 273/177, 127; 206/46 AM [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 815,649 3/1906 Smith 273/178 R 1,784,863 12/1930 Busse 273/179 C 3,700,243 10/1972 Kenney 273/178 R Primary Examiner--George J. Marlo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Malin & Haley [57] ABSTRACT A similated golf game for allowing a player to practice June 18, 19-74 and improve his putting comprising a rectangular box structure, vertically disposed, having one side of said box structure moveable from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, said moveable side having a plurality of aperatures to similate of golf holes or moon craters, an angularly disposed floor, said floor having a lower edge adjacent an aperature placed in one of the vertically disposed sides. The player attempts to place a golf ball using his putter into one of the aperatures disposed on the moveable side which has been horizontally disposed. An overshot ball will enter the box-like structure, strike the angularly disposed bottom floor and will roll out of the box structure through the side aperature allowing the player to recover the ball. The game may be scored by allowing particular points or number of shots to get 7 into respective aperatures on the moveable side. The game is portable and may be moved to a desired location by placing the moveable side in its closed posi-- tion.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures 1 GOLF PUTTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to games which allow a player to practice golf shots, especially putting, and in particular to a portable putting practice game in which holes are disposed in the side of the container to similate the playing'of golf on the moon where there would be large numbers of craters about an area.

In the. past, several golf games have been shown which allow for practice putting, but many of them are bulky, complicated and require elaborate construction. These games also were not intended to be portable and transported by a player. Applicants invention overcomes these problems by providing a golf game that similates playing golf to allow practice of putting which would provide conditions similar to that if one were playing golf on the moon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A game for similating playing golf and for practicing putting comprising a rectangular box-like structure vertically oriented in which one of the vertical sides is moveable from a vertical position to substantially horizontal position, said moveable side having a plurality of aperatures disposed therethrough, an angular surface disposed within said box-like structure at the bottom. The lower end of the angularly disposed surface is adjacent an aperature disposed within one of the vertical sides. The moveable side may be engaged and coupled to the top of the box when the game is not in use. The moveable side is joined to the rigid box-like structure above the base dividing a. partial wall that is folded down into a horizontal position or slightly below the horizontal so that the upper end of the moveable wall engages the floor surface. The resultant moveable side provides an angular planar surface, angularly disposed relative to the floor providing an upgrade to the aperatures dispose therein. The upper tip which is engaged with the floor is tapered to allow a ball while rolling on the floor surface to transition onto the planar surface of the moveable wall without bumping .or stopping.

It is an object of this invention to provide a game for similating the playing of golf.

It is another object of this invention to provide a game which similates the game of golf which allows for practicing putting.

And yet another purpose of this invention is to provide a portable golf putting game which may be utilized in almost any environment And still yet another object of this invention is to provide a golf game which similates playing of golf on the moon in that a plurality of crater-like aperatures are provided.

And still yet another object of this invention is to provide a portable similated golf game for practicing putting which may be utilized indoors or outdoors which provides for a ball return.

In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Applicants invention, with the moveable side folded down.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation showing Applicants invention with the front panel closed.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 10, is comprised of a rectangular box having a top panel 12, vertical sides 14 and 32 perpendicularly coupled to the top panel 12 and a bottom panel 34 perpendicularly coupled to side panels 14 and 32. The back side 20 of the box is essentially rectangular and is coupled to the four sides 12, 14, 34 and 32 forming a rectangular shell. The front facing has a moveable panel 18 which is pivotally coupled to front panel 18A. Fixed front panels 188 and 18C are connected to the sides 14 and 32 respectively.

FIG. 1 shows the box in position for the playing of the similated game of golf such as for putting practice. Inside the box is an angularly disposed surface 30 which is coupled at one end to the junction of bottom surface 34 and side surface 14, and at the other end to side 32 a predetermined distance from the bottom 34. This provides an acute angle with the horizontal which slopes from right to left as show in FIG. I. At the bottom of the sloping surface 30 and adjacent 32, vertical side 14 has a large aperature 22 which is sized to allow a golf ball to pass therethrough.

The interior surface of the back side 20 may have an aesthetic view showing a golf course or lunar surface. The fold-out or moveable front panel 18 has a plurality of aperatures 24, 26 and 28 through the surface 18. Also along the upper most leading edge of the moveable surface 18 is a tapered portion 18D which engagesthe surface of a floor and allows a ball to roll upon the panel 18. This tapered edge eliminates a bump which would divert the path of the ball.

FIG. 2 shows the front view with sloping surface 30 in phantom. This surface 30 allows a ball that is hit beyond the aperatures 24, 26, and 28 and falls into the box to roll down the inclined surface 30 and exit the box through aperature 22. The moveable panel 18 is rotated up into position when the game is not in use. Other equipment may be placed inside the box.

In construction it is envisioned that the box should be made of heavy cardboard or other similar material which makes it economical to build and easy to construct. The panel 18 may then be folded along the seam and bent so that it moves in and out of place, without the necessity of a fixed joint or metallic joint.

To play the game, the aperatures on moveable panel 18 are counted as similated strokes or points if the golf ball is placed through. For example, aperature 26 would count one point while the other two aperatures 24 and 28 would represent a two point score if the golf ball is sunk. Also, indicia may be placed about the taper atures which represent a crater or other lunar type description along with a pictorial representation on the inside surface of vertical side 20.

The game is played with possibly a golf putter and a rubber golf ball; however, other stroking means may be provided or other type balls can be utilized in the playing of the game. The recessed portion on the inside of the box is considered a hazard for the scoring of the game and if a ball rolls in there, three strokes are counted. The game may be scored similar to that of golf, the lowest number of strokes being the winner.

The instant invention has been shows and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. A similated golf game comprising:

a rectangular box having four vertically disposed sides substantially rectangular in shape, a top member and a bottom member coupling said four vertically disposed sides together to form said box, one of said vertical sides having a moveable portion comprising a fold-down panel, said moveable panel said vertical panel aperture. 

1. A similated golf game comprising: a rectangular box having four vertically disposed sides substantially rectangular in shape, a top member and a bottom member coupling said four vertically disposed sides together to form said box, one of said vertical sides having a moveable portion comprising a fold-down panel, said moveable panel having a plurality of apertures therein and a tapered path section engageable with a floor; one of said vertical sides adjacent said side having said moveable panel has a aperture adjacent the bottom floor allowing communication between the exterior and the interior of said rectangular box; and a sloping panel coupled at one end to the bottom of said box bottom adjacent said apertured vertical side and the other end connected part of the way up said vertical panel opposite said apertured side forming a sloping panel which terminates adjacent said vertical panel aperture. 